USS Tarawa (LHA-1), the lead ship of the Tarawa class general purpose amphibious assault ships, was commissioned at Ingalls Shipbuilding in May 1976 and served in the Pacific Fleet. Tarawa represented a major advancement in amphibious warfare capability as the Navy’s first general purpose amphibious assault ship combining the helicopter assault capability of the LPH, the vehicle and cargo well deck of the LSD, and the troop transport capability of the LPD in a single hull. Tarawa deployed to the Western Pacific and Persian Gulf, supporting Marine Expeditionary Unit operations and participating in numerous amphibious exercises. Tarawa’s conventional steam propulsion plant — two boilers driving geared steam turbines — provided propulsion for the 39,967-ton ship through her service. Commissioned in 1976, Tarawa incorporated asbestos-containing boiler insulation, steam pipe insulation, turbine insulation, and hull construction materials in her vast interior spaces consistent with the mid-1970s construction period.

USS Tarawa Steam Plant and Construction Asbestos

Tarawa’s large steam propulsion plant and extensive hull construction incorporated asbestos throughout:

  • Boiler insulation — Tarawa’s boilers were insulated with asbestos-containing boiler casing insulation consistent with mid-1970s construction specifications. The large engineering department required to operate a ship of Tarawa’s size accumulated asbestos exposure through her Pacific Fleet service
  • High-pressure steam pipe insulation — the steam mains and extensive auxiliary steam piping network throughout Tarawa’s large engineering spaces incorporated asbestos-containing pipe insulation consistent with mid-1970s naval construction specifications
  • Propulsion turbine insulation — Tarawa’s main propulsion turbines incorporated asbestos-containing turbine casing insulation consistent with mid-1970s specifications
  • Troop berthing, well deck, hangar deck, and auxiliary spaces — Tarawa’s troop berthing areas housing up to 1,900 Marines, aviation hangar deck, vehicle well deck, and the extensive auxiliary spaces of the LHA design were constructed using the hull construction materials of the mid-1970s building period incorporating asbestos-containing materials throughout

VA Claims for USS Tarawa Veterans

VA evaluates asbestos-related disability claims on a case-by-case basis. Veterans generally need evidence of in-service asbestos exposure, a current asbestos-related diagnosis, and a medical link between them. Machinist’s Mates, Boilermen, aviation ratings, Marine Corps personnel, and crew members who served aboard USS Tarawa and have since been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for VA disability benefits.

Product & Manufacturer Reference

The asbestos-containing products documented on U.S. Navy vessels and at shipyards are catalogued by manufacturer on AsbestosIndex. These records cross-reference which companies supplied which materials and to which facilities.

Pipe Covering & Block Insulation Thermal insulation applied to steam lines, valves, and equipment in engine rooms and fire rooms Marine Products Insulation, gaskets, and packing products specified for naval and commercial marine applications Boilers & Steam Equipment Boiler manufacturers and insulation products — central to the fire room exposure pathway Gaskets & Packing Sheet and ring gaskets used throughout piping flanges, valve bonnets, and pump housings Electrical Products Wire insulation, switchgear arc chutes, and panel liners used throughout electrical spaces Full Product Index Search all 200+ manufacturers and 1,500+ documented asbestos products on AsbestosIndex™

Navy Ratings Most Exposed to Asbestos Aboard Tarawa

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the public asbestos litigation record document that the following Navy ratings worked routinely in spaces where ACM was installed, maintained, ripped out, and replaced:

VA Disability Claims for Asbestos-Related Disease

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs evaluates asbestos claims individually. A veteran generally needs medical evidence of a current asbestos-related disease, service evidence supporting in-service asbestos exposure, and a medical opinion connecting the two. Ship assignments, Navy ratings, and equipment records can help document the exposure history but do not create automatic service connection.

Approved claims may provide monthly disability compensation and related benefits. Survivors may separately qualify for Dependency & Indemnity Compensation when the applicable requirements are met. Civil lawsuits and asbestos-trust claims use different standards; claimants should obtain individualized advice about how the processes interact.

How to file a VA disability claim: VA claims are filed directly with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs — not with a law firm. Start at VA.gov › Hazardous Materials Exposure, call 1‑800‑827‑1000, or get free help filing from a Veterans Service Organization: DAV, VFW, or American Legion.

VA Claims Guide on This Site › Compare: VA vs. Civil Lawsuit

Source notes: equipment-manifest entries (where shown) are sourced from public-record BUSHIPS (Bureau of Ships) documentation, NARA archives, and the public asbestos litigation record. Manufacturer attributions link to documented asbestos-product histories on AsbestosIndex.com where available. Nothing on this page constitutes medical or legal advice.